Mangaluru, July 29, 2025: The city's rubber market is seeing a steady rise in prices over the last week, with the CAMPCO market indicating a price of ₹208.50 per kg for RSS-4 (Ribbed Smoked Sheet) grade rubber on Monday. This is a marginal decline from the ₹209 per kg recorded on Saturday. Notably, the price had reached a high of ₹232 per kg during September and October of 2024, before dropping to an average of ₹180-₹190 per kg. However, in the last six weeks, it has regained momentum, surpassing the ₹205 level. This positive trend reflects the recovering market conditions for rubber in the region.
Limited Supply Fuels Price Hike
Local growers have reported a significant price hike in the rubber market, citing a scarcity of rubber sheets as the primary reason. Ganesh, a rubber grower, clarified that despite employing plastic covers to safeguard the rubber trees against the adverse effects of the monsoon, persistent downpours have obstructed the tapping process, resulting in a notable decline in the production of rubber sheets. The persistent rain has thus created a supply shortage, which has in turn driven market prices upwards. However, another grower offered a glimmer of hope, stating that if the monsoon's intensity diminishes and tapping activities can be resumed at full capacity, the market could expect price stabilization within a month's time.
Tree Felling Adds to Supply Woes
Adding to the existing supply challenges, a notable number of growers in Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada district and adjacent Kerala have resorted to felling rubber trees, including those that are still economically viable for latex extraction, in order to take advantage of the soaring timber prices. A single rubber tree is currently valued at a market price ranging from ₹2,000 to ₹2,250. This prevalent practice of deforestation has had a significant impact on the supply of rubber sheets, thereby exacerbating the already upward trend in their prices. Reflecting on the historical context, a decade ago, rubber prices had reached a peak of ₹245 per kg, only to plummet to ₹120 later. Growers assert that a price of ₹250 per kg is essential for sustainable profitability, considering the escalating costs associated with tapping labor. As the market undergoes these transformations, they remain cautiously optimistic, with hopes pinned on consistent demand and advantageous conditions to preserve the positive trajectory in rubber prices.
Keywords: rubber prices, Mangaluru, RSS-4, rubber supply, Karnataka, rubber market, tree felling, Campco, rubber tapping, price surge